BROADCASTING.

Evening Star, Issue 21710, 3 May 1934, Page 3

BROADCASTING.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Your correspondent, _“ As Others See Us,” was not far out in his criticism of our 4YA Concert Orchestra, in spite of “No Malice’s ” rather hotheaded comment on his letter. There is no shadow of doubt as to the weakness of the local combination over the air. Whether this is due to faulty placing of the players before the “mike” to the actual acoustics of the studio from which the broadcasts take place, or simply because there are not players enough to give a “ fullbodied ” effect, Ido not know. Probably it is the latter, as while the other YA stations have each an orchestra pure and simple, 4YA has to be content with an octet or Concert Orchestra, and it is obviously up to the Broadcasting Board to see this anomaly put right. There is, of course, no question as to the ability of_ the players and the conductor composing tire local “ abridged ” orchestra. With the total of listeners steadily mounting the question of iinance cannot be given as an excuse for not augmenting the 4YA orchestra. , With regard to “Radio’s ” query regarding the announcing of tne titles of records after they have been played, with such more than well-known tunes as ‘ Home, Sweet Home,’ it may appear ridiculous telling us after playing them what they were. The idea behind this way of announcing records is, I take it, to try and educate the “ low brows ’1 like myself up to as high a musical standard as possible. If we hear the title first most of us take the tune for granted. If, however, the order is reversed it may cause us to stir the “ grey matter ” and try and recognise what is being played by our own efforts. The idea is a perfectly sound one—if it works. While on the subject of the local YA station, I would like to suggest that the idea of having special programmes on certain days of the year in commemoration of national events, saints’ days, and such, be carried out in more fitting fashion in future. The concert on Anzac night was, to say the least, frightfully weak and inappropriate to the occasion. We expect to find a little thought expended on arranging programmes for such days as this one. It is obviously impossible to please us all, but there are certain occasions when a want of thought is more than annoying. I hope that “ Radio ” will be able to arrange matters in order to have no difficulty with 4YO. Has he tried disconnecting his aerial, or perhaps a note to the engineers at Station 4YO may bring him some helpfiil advice. There is no reason why he should not he able to put this matter right.—l am, etc., Night-Owl. May 3.